House GOP Leader: Republicans ‘On Verge of Historic Victory’ on Health Care
EmailABC News’ Dean Norland reports:
Rep. Mike Pence proclaimed today that opponents of the House Democratic leadership's health care reform plan were close to achieving a “historic victory” – by defeating those proposals.
"House Republicans, and a handful of Democrats, are on the verge of a historic victory for American taxpayers and for the American health care economy," Pence, R-Ind., the chairman of the House Republican Conference, told reporters following a meeting of Republican House members.
The handful of Democrats he was referring to are the seven "Blue Dogs", or moderate Democratic members, who serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Those Democrats are concerned about the cost of the bill and, so far, are unwilling to vote to get it out of committee.
Pence also put out a call for help: "Americans who cherish the fundamental free market foundation of our health care economy should call their congressmen today and urge them to oppose the government takeover of health care being moved by this administration and House Democrats."
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., reached out to all House "Blue Dogs,” not just those on the committee.
"We stand ready, again, to continue to work with our colleagues, as we know there are 68 on the other side who have voiced some concerns over this bill. We stand together with them to try and get this health care reform bill right, not to rush it, but make sure that we can deliver ultimately the kind of reform that the American people want," he said.
Gov. Haley Barbour, R-Miss., a guest at the GOP conference, said over he had heard concerns about the legislation expressed by both Republican and Democratic governors at a governors' association meeting last weekend.
"There is no use in rushing this through artificially when there are so many concerns, on a bipartisan basis," he said.
Barbour said House Democratic leaders have been forced to slow down their push for a bill because so many members of their own party, including many Democratic governors, know that the legislation cannot be rushed because of the danger of passing a bad bill.
House Republicans have said they support reform, but they want a program that will lower the cost of health care for every American, particularly a plan that would reduce the cost of health insurance for small business owners, farmers and working families.
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Dean Norland this reads like a republican propaganda piece.
Pence, Cantor, Barbour, all making the same prediction about a future event.
What kind of half-assed journalism doesn’t attempt to get another point of view on this. Could no one be found?
Posted by: kevin polk | July 28, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
A historic victory defending the private insurance status quo and 20% per year health care cost escalations?
Glad they can take such pride in their obstructionism. I guess it is far easier than actually trying to govern and provide constructive amendments to address flaws they and their constituents saw (for example, as the Democrats did in 2001 as Bush pushed through his tax cuts, or the Democrats did in 1996 during welfare reform).
Posted by: jhw539 | July 28, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
LOL!!! These folks have issues! Okay, so you defeat the plan. I can work with that. However, EVERYONE agrees that “something” needs to be done about healthcare in the USA! So, you defeat this plan… where/what is your alternative plan? When will these silly grown children GROW UP and start acting like ADULTS?????
Posted by: FS | July 28, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
If republicans supported reform, they would have done something the last 15 years… instead, they let the problems fester and get worse and worse and worse…
Posted by: Mike | July 28, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Pence also put out a call for help: “Americans who cherish the fundamental free market foundation of our health care economy should call their congressmen today and urge them to oppose the government takeover of health care being moved by this administration and House Democrats.”
THE FUNDAMENTAL FREE MARKET BANKRUPT THSI COUNTRY AND WE WANT A PUBILC OPTION AND NOT MORE AND NOTHING LESS!
Posted by: gl | July 28, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
3:39:16 PM said`If republicans supported reform, they would have done something the last 15 years… instead, they let the problems fester and get worse and worse and worse…`
Yap,
Posted by: zodiak | July 28, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Please defeat this plan! It costs too much, we can’t afford it, it will involve rationing health care, it will involve disolving insurance companies and plans that over 70% of citizens are happy with. Instead do this….1. Tort reform,it will reduce the outrageous fees doctors and hospitals pay for liablility suits, 2. Open up competition between insurance companies, 3. Get control of the borders and the illegal situation. 4. Reimburse Doctors and hospitals at their full cost for Medicare. 5. Reduce the 4% fraud in the Medicare system. 6.Have co-pays included in every procedure or prescription. If it costs people something, they will not have unnecessary purchases. These are common sense items that were not in the health care “reform” bill.
Posted by: Kary | July 28, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
“We stand together with them to try and get this health care plan right,not to rush it, but make sure that we can deliver ultimatley that the kind of reform that the american people want.” Whats wrong with that? Nothing!!! Remember around 70% of americans are happy with their health care. Can it be better, yes! Do we have to tear it apart and start from scratch? No. Hey guys, just a hint, just because Obama says something doesn’t make it so!
Posted by: notanobamafan | July 28, 2009, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
anyone who truly believes that providing a sensible healthcare plan that works for most Americans after 61 years of just talking about healthcare reform is “rushing it” . . . well they are just silly.
Posted by: notthistime | July 28, 2009, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
LOL, the fallacy here is that Republican have defated nothing. The Dems have defeated themselves.
for everyone who seems to think this is such a BAD thing, how do you know that healthcare under anything that looks like HR3200 is better than where we are today?
That thing is a BS guidline…nothing more.
By the way, Why aren’t all of you up in arms over the fact the HR3200 does NOT give you any plan nor is it REQUIRED to in the short term. The Sec of H&HS has 18 months to come up with an initial set of benefits.
Yeah, that sounds like “gitter done” to me!!!!!
Posted by: Mike_C | July 28, 2009, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
A historic victory for the benefits of vast insurance combines! Indeed, truly something to praise.
Posted by: T | July 28, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
“…Pence also put out a call for help: “Americans who cherish the fundamental free market foundation of our health care economy should call their congressmen today and urge them to oppose the government takeover of health care being moved by this administration and House Democrats’…”
_________________________
the only americans cherishing the freemarket healthcare economy are those benefiting from it. Who are they? not you and I.
They include the huge pharmaceutical, healthcare & insurance industry. This isn’t the government ‘taking your guns away’, bubs. It’s the wealthy taking away healthcare affordability, houses, 401K’s…
Posted by: gus amaral | July 28, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
“Remember around 70% of americans are happy with their health care. Can it be better, yes! Do we have to tear it apart and start from scratch? No. Hey guys, just a hint, just because Obama says something doesn’t make it so!”
Posted by: notanobamafan | Jul 28, 2009 4:17:39 PM
________________
which 70%? of the…the 10% unemployed? ..the 30 percent underinsured?
notanobamafan,
I’m sure you are a healthcare expert, otherwise you wouldn’t be frequently wrong, and always certain.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 28, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
gus amaral, did I strike a nerve? how can I be frequently wrong and always certain about a subject I haven’t commented on much? Anyway, you’re right, I was wrong. Foxnews.com-93% of insured Americans who recently suffered serious illness satisfied with health care, gallup.com- 83% of Americans satisfied with personal health care, clipmarks.com-89% of Americans satisfied with personal healthcare. There are many more all you have to do is google it. Don’t have to be an expert in anything to know “you” are on the loosing team. You my friend are in the minority whether you realize it or not.
Posted by: notanobamafan | July 28, 2009, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
I say cram it through. Forget the GOP or the blue dogs who are sold out to the insurance companies. Just cram it through and let the chips fall where they may.
There is no reform without the public option.
Posted by: Chuck | July 28, 2009, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Sometimes the most prudent remedy is
to not do MORE harm, in a knee-jerk
reaction to a fix a “catastrophe”.
America knows it will take work, and
time to get rid of this administration,
but “you betcha”, we’ll do it.
Posted by: Trajan | July 29, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
To Mike who says “THE FUNDAMENTAL FREE MARKET BANKRUPT THSI COUNTRY AND WE WANT A PUBILC OPTION AND NOT MORE AND NOTHING LESS!”
I ask, If the free market bankrupted this country, how did we become the wealthiest nation in the world? Certainly government has never grown an economy. Putting health care back in the hands of individuals will control cost far better (why shouldn’t people who buy their own insurance get the same deduction as if it comes from an employer?
Posted by: Kim | July 29, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
gl says: `If republicans supported reform, they would have done something the last 15 years… instead, they let the problems fester and get worse and worse and worse…`
You’re right, but “beating” the Republicans isn’t the point. Putting out healthcare in government hands is foolish.
Posted by: Kim | July 29, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Chuck: It’s because of people that think like you do that we are in a sinking ship. You must be forgetting the stimulus that was crammed through and has not done one thing to help our economy. Reading your comment though I can see you are one of those that sit back and trust the government to think for you, then you complain when it’s not to your liking. I for one think getting back our jobs and focusing on lowering taxes to give incentive for business to get going again is what’s important now. You all worry so much about party title, it’s like if your party gets a bill through, even if it is a disaster for our country, that whats important to you, We are all Americans and we all need to see to it that our elected officials represent us and do what is good for our country not whoever is lining their pockets at the time. Obama had his chance to make history and he is definitely blowing it. All of you Obama worshipers think he has made history already but what he does now that he is in his position, that’s what will be history. I would have thought he would have wanted to do something great, but maybe he thinks government take over is great. Personally I don’t and if you do, you are a fool.
Posted by: Bets | July 29, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I am surprised that Rep. Mike Pence considers defeating a bill on healthcare reform as a victory for the republican party especially when such an action would hurt all Americans. What is the agenda that Mike Pence it pormoting: defeating the sitting President even when that action is against America and its health. If this is indeed the republican party agenda, then this party is no longer an American party.
Healthcare reform is important to everyone in America and we ought to work together to pass this biil. Porviding more competition is always good.
To those who say that public option does not provide competition, take a look at UPS, fedEX and other such firms who thrive in face of US Postal Service that also has been a success and is run by givenrment. Similarly, Medicare is run by government and is quite successful and also promotes competition. So what is the real issue here: Republicans don’t like it as their big supporters, insurance companies not like it. I suggest these people to reexamine their motives.
I suggest Rep Mike Pence reexamine his values and why he joined public service in the first place. If his goal is not to serve the American people, he should leave the congress.
Posted by: Jeet | August 22, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm